Creative Preaching In The Social Media Era: Digital Training For Muhammadiyah Cadres

Abstract

The digital transformation of communication has significantly impacted religious outreach practices, including those of modern Islamic movements such as Muhammadiyah. This article examines the implementation of a digital-based da’wah training program for Muhammadiyah cadres in Tosari, Pasuruan, East Java. The program aimed to enhance participants’ digital literacy, content creation skills, and contextual communication strategies grounded in Islamic values. Utilizing a participatory and experiential training model, participants engaged in hands-on workshops and mentoring sessions focused on tools such as Canva, CapCut, and social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Evaluation results indicated substantial improvements in digital skills, increased confidence in engaging youth audiences, and a paradigm shift among participants regarding the use of technology for religious outreach. The findings suggest that integrating religious education with media literacy can empower da’wah practitioners as adaptive change agents within the digital public sphere. This model holds potential for replication in other regions, with contextual adjustments to meet local needs.